Method and apparatus for providing advertising

ABSTRACT

A play ticket for use in a game of chance including a sheet of paper, a first graphical image and at least one advertising graphical image. The sheet of paper has a front facing surface and aback facing surface. The sheet of paper is weakened along at least one predetermined line to define at least a first portion and a second portion. The first graphical image includes required indicia for playing the game of chance and is at least partially imprinted on the first portion. The at least one advertising graphical image includes indicia identifying a product of an advertiser and is imprinted on the second portion. The first graphical image is imprinted on the front facing surface. The sheet of paper may include a readable data form containing coded data. The sheet of paper may also include a coupon detailing a product discount.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This non-provisional application claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Applications Serial No. 60/336,124, entitled “Methodand Apparatus for Providing Advertising,” filed on Nov. 15, 2001, andSerial No. 60/340,871, entitled “Method and Apparatus for ProvidingAdvertising,” filed on Dec. 7, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus forproviding advertising, and more particularly, the invention is directedto a method and apparatus for providing advertising on a game of chanceticket.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] Games of chance continue to be very popular in our culture.Certain games of chance, such as instant ticket games or pull tabtickets games have gained popularity with social, fraternal, or churchorganizations seeking to raise funds. Commercial bingo halls alsofeature similar games of chance. Other conventional games of chanceinclude state lottery instant tickets and betting slips. Certain bettingslips are available at no charge. In these cases, a player holding a betslip only pays when placing his or her bet. These and other types ofgames of chance are well-known and popular with a relatively largepercentage of people.

[0004] Many games of chance are played with play tickets that arediscarded soon after completion of the game. Because most holders of theplay tickets are not ultimately winners in these games, the holders aresometimes left with a feeling disappointment or sorrow regarding theparticular game of chance. To counteract this affect, some games ofchance include “second chance” options to compensate certain losingplayers. Some of these methods include a material loss of revenue orprofit to the game operator. A need exists to compensate losing playersof games of chance, without providing additional chances to play at theexpense of the game operator.

[0005] As stated, games of chances are very popular in our culture. As aresult, the competition for players has led to a very competitive marketwith ever decreasing profit-margins for game operators. A need existsfor an individual operator of a game of chance to receive revenuesadditional and separate from revenues received from game players. Theplay tickets used in these games represent a previously unusedadvertising vehicle for goods and services of companies not associatedwith the operator of the game of chance and thus, a potential source ofrevenue for game manufacturers or operators.

[0006] For at least the reasons stated, a need exists in the art for agame of chance playing ticket that is a new apparatus and method forproviding advertising. The present invention advantageously allows for aplay ticket to include advertising, with possibilities for coupons andbar code data, while supplying the game operator with additional revenueand the play ticket holder with extra incentive to play the game ofchance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus forproviding advertising on a game of chance play ticket. The inventionallows an individual operator of a game of chance to receive revenuesadditional and separate from revenues received from game players. Oneembodiment of the invention features a “tear-off” portion includingadvertising or coupons for retention by the player.

[0008] The play ticket of the present invention includes a sheet ofpaper, a first graphical image and at least one advertising graphicalimage. The sheet has a front facing surface and a back facing surface.The sheet is weakened along at least one predetermined line to define atleast a first portion and a second portion. The first graphical imageincludes required indicia for playing the game of chance and is at leastpartially imprinted on the first portion. The at least one advertisinggraphical image includes indicia identifying a product of an advertiserand is imprinted on the second portion. The first graphical image isimprinted on the front facing surface.

[0009] The play ticket may include a plurality of advertising graphicalimages, wherein each image identifies a product of an advertiser. Theplay ticket may include at least one advertising graphical image that isa readable data form, wherein the data form comprises coded data. Thedata may including information identifying the play ticket of the gameof chance as an advertising vehicle source. The at least one advertisinggraphical image may be a coupon detailing a product discount offered toa holder of the play ticket.

[0010] The play ticket of the present invention may include at least onepredetermined line weakened by scoring to facilitate folding, or atleast one predetermined line weakened by perforation to facilitatetearing.

[0011] The play ticket may include at least one predetermined lineperforated to allow a play ticket holder to separate the play ticketinto the first portion and the second portion, wherein the secondportion includes at least one advertising graphical image and may beretained by the play ticket holder separately from the first portion.

[0012] The play ticket may include on the front facing surface aperforation that defines a supplemental information portion. Thesupplemental portion may include fanciful information for the enjoymentof a play ticket holder. The supplemental portion may include a secondgame of chance for the enjoyment of a play ticket holder. The secondgame of chance may be a scratch-off game. In one embodiment, the playeris not required to pay a fee to play the scratch-off game. Thesupplemental portion may include indicia for providing a method forselecting a number to be played in the game of chance.

[0013] The method practiced in accordance with an exemplary embodimentof the invention includes the steps of obtaining a first graphicalimage, providing at least one advertising graphical image, producing agame of chance play ticket on a sheet of paper, the play ticket havingthe first graphical image imprinted on a front facing surface of theticket and the at least one advertising graphical image imprinted on asurface of the ticket, and weakening the sheet of paper along at leastone predetermined line, wherein the at least one predetermined line isperforated and defines at least a first portion and a second portion,the second portion includes the at least one advertising graphicalimage, the advertising graphical image is a coupon, and the coupondetails a product discount offered to a play ticket holder.

[0014] Other objects and advantages and a fuller understanding of theinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments and theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a front view of a prior art game of chance play ticket;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a front view of a play ticket constructed in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention, showing a front facingsurface;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a back view of the play ticket illustrated in FIG. 2,showing a back facing surface;

[0018]FIG. 4a is a front view of a play ticket constructed in accordancewith an alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing a frontfacing surface;

[0019]FIG. 4b is a back view of the play ticket illustrated in FIG. 4a,showing a back facing surface;

[0020]FIG. 5a is a front view of a play ticket constructed in accordancewith yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention,showing a front facing surface;

[0021]FIG. 5b is a back view of the play ticket illustrated in FIG. 5a,showing a back facing surface;

[0022]FIG. 6a is a front view of a play ticket constructed in accordancewith yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention,showing a front facing surface;

[0023]FIG. 6b is a back view of the play ticket illustrated in FIG. 6a,showing a back facing surface; and

[0024]FIG. 7 is a front view of a play ticket constructed in accordancewith yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention,showing a front facing surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art game of chance ticket 10 isshown. As illustrated, the ticket 10 is sold by a State Lottery. A frontfacing surface 12 of the ticket 10 as illustrated does not includeadvertising for any goods or services. The back facing surface (notshown) of this ticket 10 is blank. The ticket includes imprintedgraphical grids 14 that create areas 16 for a play ticket holder torecords bet information. Other similar prior art tickets may be computergenerated at the point-of-purchase to include play numbers selected bythe player or by a random generator.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, a front view of a ticket 20 constructed inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated,showing a front facing surface 22. A portion of the ticket may bepre-printed at another location and a portion may be printed at apoint-of-sale location. Alternatively, the entire ticket may be computergenerated and printed at a point-of-sale location. The play ticket 20includes a sheet of paper, a first graphical image 26 and at least oneadvertising graphical image 40 a.

[0027] As illustrated, the play ticket 20 is designed for use as a betslip in a conventional game of chance. It should be apparent to otherswith ordinary skill in the art that play tickets for use in other gamesof chance may be constructed in accordance with the present invention inview of this disclosure.

[0028] The play ticket 20 includes a sheet of paper. The play ticket 20may be constructed from paper, chip board, or any other suitable medium.In a preferred embodiment, 60 lb. paper is used. The sheet has a frontfacing surface 22 and a back facing surface 24. The back facing surface24 is best shown in FIG. 3.

[0029] The ticket 20 is weakened along at least one predetermined line30 a. A predetermined line 30 a may be scored to facilitate folding orperforated to facilitate tearing. As illustrated, the ticket 20 includesthree perforated lines 30 a, 30 b, 30 c. Only one line 30 a isillustrated in FIG. 2, however all three 30 a, 30 b, 30 c areillustrated in FIG. 3. The line 30 a acts to separate the ticket intotwo portions 32 a, 32 b. A top portion 32 a includes printing directedto the game of chance and a bottom portion 32 b includes printingdirected to advertising. The perforation 30 a allows a player to tearoff the advertising portion 32 b and retain for future reference afterthe top portion 32 a is discarded. The player may do so before or afterthe game is played.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment, the line 30 a is scored and allowsa game operator to fold a play ticket 20 in half to facilitate insertioninto a computer ticket entry opening.

[0031] In yet another alternative embodiment, a bottom portion 32 bincludes printing directed to the game of chance and a top portion 32 aincludes printing directed to advertising.

[0032] Referring again to FIG. 2, the ticket 20 includes a firstgraphical image 26. The first graphical image 26 is imprinted on thefront facing surface 22. The first graphical image 26 includes requiredindicia for playing a game of chance. As discussed, the indicia may bepre-printed, or generated by a computer at a point-of-sale location. Theindicia may include imprinted graphical grids for player use,instructions to players, and general game of chance information.

[0033] The ticket 20 also includes at least one advertising graphicalimage 40 a. The at least one advertising graphical image 40 a isimprinted on the front facing surface 22. The at least one advertisinggraphical image 40 a includes indicia identifying an advertiser'sproducts or services. The image 40 a may be imprinted in black ink, by afour color printing process, or by any other conventional method.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 3, a back view of the ticket 20 illustratedin FIG. 2 showing a back facing surface 24 is illustrated. The backfacing surface 24 of the ticket 20 is divided into four portions 41 a,41 b, 41 c, 41 d by three perforations 30 a, 30 b, 30 c. As illustrated,the ticket 20 further includes four advertising graphical images 40 b,40 c, 40 d, 40 e imprinted on the back facing surface 24. Alternatively,one or more of the images 40 b, 40 c, 40 d, 40 e could be replaced withgame of chance instructions 50 imprinted on the back facing surface 24.

[0035] As illustrated, the advertising graphical image 40 e imprinted onthe bottom portion 41 d includes a readable data form 42. The readabledata form may be one of several known systems that utilize coded data,including bar coding. In one embodiment, the coded data of the presentinvention data includes information identifying a product and a productdiscount. In other words, after the portion 41 d is separated by theplay ticket holder from the ticket 20, the portion 41 d may act as aconventional coupon. In a preferred embodiment, the coded data of thepresent invention the code data includes information identifying theplay ticket of the game of chance as an advertising vehicle source.Therefore, after the portion 41 d with the bar code is utilized by aconsumer as a coupon, an advertiser could identify the game of chance asthe source of the coupon.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 4a, a front view of a play ticket 50constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated. A front facing surface 52 is shown in FIG. 4a.A back facing surface 54 of the ticket 50 is illustrated in FIG. 4b.

[0037] Again to FIG. 4a, the ticket includes perforations 60 a, 60 b.The play ticket 50 includes a perforation 60 a that defines asupplemental information portion 61 e. As illustrated, the supplementalportion 61 e includes imprinted fanciful information 64 for theenjoyment of a play ticket holder.

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 4b, the back facing surface of the ticket50 is divided into five portions 61 a, 61 b, 61 c, 61 d, 61 e by fourperforations 60 a, 60 b, 60 c, 60 d. As illustrated, the ticket portion61 e has been separated from the ticket 50.

[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 5a and 5 b, a play ticket 70 constructedin accordance with yet another alternative embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated. As shown in the two referenced figures, afront facing surface 72 and a back facing surface 74 is illustrated. Thegeneral physical construction of the play ticket 70 is essentially thesame as the play ticket 50 illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4 b.

[0040] The ticket 70 includes perforations 80 a, 80 b. The play ticket70 includes a perforation 80 a that defines a supplemental informationportion 81 e. As illustrated, the supplemental portion 81 e includes asecond game of chance 84 for the enjoyment of a play ticket holder forthe enjoyment of a play ticket holder. In the embodiment illustrated,the player does not pay any money to play the scratch-off game. In fact,in certain applications, no purchase is required of any kind. Asillustrated, the second game of chance is a scratch-off game 84.

[0041] Referring now to FIGS. 6a and 6 b, a play ticket 90 constructedin accordance with yet another alternative embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated. As shown in the two figures, a front facingsurface 92 and a back facing surface 94 is illustrated. The generalphysical construction of the play ticket 70 is essentially the same asthe play ticket 50 illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4 b, as well as the playticket 90 illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5 b.

[0042] The ticket 90 includes perforations 100 a, 100 b. The play ticket90 includes a perforation 100 a that defines a supplemental informationportion 101 e. As illustrated, the supplemental portion 101 e includesindicia 104 for providing a method for selecting a number to be playedin the game of chance by the holder of the play ticket 90.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 7, a front view of a play ticket 110constructed in accordance with yet another alternative embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated. The play ticket 110 includes a frontfacing surface 112. The ticket 110 includes a perforation 114 defining afirst portion 116 a and a second portion 116 b. As illustrated, thesecond portion 116 b includes at least one advertising graphical image120. As shown, the image is an imprinted coupon 120. The coupon 120details a product discount offered to a play ticket holder. Theexemplary coupon shown details a “buy one, get one free” offer. Itshould be understood by others with ordinary skill in the art that otherpromotional strategies could be used in the practice of the presentinvention.

[0044] Many variations and modifications of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from the above detaileddescription. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope ofthe appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than asspecifically shown and described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A play ticket for use in a game of chancecomprising: a) a sheet of paper, wherein said sheet has a front facingsurface and a back facing surface and is weakened along at least onepredetermined line to define at least a first portion and a secondportion; b) a first graphical image, wherein said first graphical imagecomprises required indicia for playing said game of chance and is atleast partially imprinted on said first portion; and c) at least oneadvertising graphical image, wherein said at least one advertisinggraphical image comprises indicia identifying a product of an advertiserand is imprinted on said second portion; d) wherein said first graphicalimage is imprinted on said front facing surface.
 2. The play ticket ofclaim 1 wherein said at least one advertising graphical image isimprinted on said back facing surface.
 3. The play ticket of claim 1further including a plurality of advertising graphical images, whereineach image identifies a product of an advertiser.
 4. The play ticket ofclaim 1 further including a plurality of advertising graphical images,wherein at least one image is imprinted on said front facing surface andat least one image is imprinted on said back facing surface.
 5. The playticket of claim 1 wherein said at least one advertising graphical imageincludes a readable data form, wherein said data form comprises codeddata.
 6. The play ticket of claim 1 wherein said at least oneadvertising graphical image includes a readable data form, wherein saiddata form comprises coded data, said data including informationidentifying said play ticket of said game of chance as an advertisingvehicle source.
 7. The play ticket of claim 1 wherein said at least oneadvertising graphical image is a coupon, said coupon detailing a productdiscount offered to a play ticket holder.
 8. The play ticket of claim 1wherein said at least one predetermined line is weakened by scoring tofacilitate folding.
 9. The play ticket of claim 1 wherein said at leastone predetermined line is weakened by perforation to facilitate tearing.10. The play ticket of claim 1 wherein said back facing surfacecomprises a plurality of advertising graphical images.
 11. The playticket of claim 1 wherein said game of chance is a state lottery. 12.The play ticket of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said firstgraphical image is generated by an automated printing system at apoint-of-sale location.
 13. The play ticket of claim 1 wherein at leasta portion of said at least one advertising graphical image is generatedby an automated printing system at a point-of-sale location.
 14. Theplay ticket of claim 1 wherein said at least one predetermined line isperforated to allow a play ticket holder to separate said play ticketinto said first portion and said second portion, wherein said secondportion comprises said at least one advertising graphical image and mayhe retained by said play ticket holder separately from said firstportion.
 15. The play ticket of claim 1 wherein said back facing surfaceis imprinted with information indicia, wherein said indicia is directedtoward cash award information and game of chance instructions.
 16. Theplay ticket of claim 1 wherein said front facing surface includes aperforation that defines a supplemental information portion, whereinsaid supplemental portion includes fanciful information for theenjoyment of a play ticket holder.
 17. The play ticket of claim 1wherein said front facing surface includes a perforation that defines asupplemental information portion, wherein said supplemental portionincludes a second game of chance for the enjoyment of a play ticketholder, said second game of chance being a scratch-off game.
 18. Theplay ticket of claim 1 wherein said front facing surface includes aperforation that defines a supplemental information portion, whereinsaid supplemental portion includes indicia for providing a method forselecting a number to be played in said game of chance.
 19. A playticket for use in a game of chance comprising: a) a sheet of paper,wherein said sheet has a front facing surface and a back facing surfaceand is weakened along a plurality of predetermined lines to define atleast a first portion and a second portion; b) a first graphical image,wherein said first graphical image comprises required indicia forplaying said game of chance and is at least partially imprinted on saidfirst portion; and c) a plurality of advertising graphical images,wherein each of said advertising graphical images comprises indiciaidentifying a product of an advertiser, at least one advertisinggraphical images is imprinted on said second portion, at least oneadvertising graphical image includes a readable data form, wherein saiddata form comprises coded data, and at least one advertising graphicalimage is a coupon, said coupon detailing a product discount offered to aplay ticket holder; d) wherein said first graphical image is imprintedon said front facing surface; e) wherein at least one of saidpredetermined lines is perforated to allow a play ticket holder toseparate said play ticket into said first portion and said secondportion, wherein said second portion comprises said at least oneadvertising graphical image and may be retained by said play ticketholder separately from said first portion.
 20. A method of providingadvertising comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a first graphicalimage, wherein said first graphical image comprises required indicia forplaying a game of chance; b) providing at least one advertisinggraphical image, wherein said at least one advertising graphical imagecomprises indicia identifying a product of an advertiser; c) producing agame of chance play ticket on a sheet of paper, said play ticket havingsaid first graphical image imprinted on a front facing surface of saidticket and said at least one advertising graphical image imprinted on asurface of said ticket; and d) weakening said sheet of paper along atleast one predetermined line, wherein said at least one predeterminedline is perforated and defines at least a first portion and a secondportion; e) wherein said second portion includes said at least oneadvertising graphical image, said image being a coupon, said coupondetailing a product discount offered to a play ticket holder.